O'Reilly on homeless veterans "There are not many of them out there"

[skipos]

(video at link)
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/paul-rieckhoff/oreilly-downplays-number_b_81900.html

Last night on The O'Reilly Factor, Bill O'Reilly repeated his ridiculous assertion that there are few, if any, homeless veterans in America:
O'Reilly raised an important topic: the plight of homeless veterans. Too bad he got the facts wrong.
There are almost 200,000 homeless veterans in America. Let me introduce you to one:
Less than a year after serving with the 3rd Infantry Division in Iraq, twenty-five year old Herold Noel found himself unemployed, homeless, and unable to provide for his wife and four children.
As a homeless Iraq veteran suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and living out of his car in Brooklyn, Herold was not greeted by a support system for veterans. Instead, he met resistance from the Housing Authority, the VA, and New York's city shelter for families, filling out form after form and added to waiting list after waiting list.
According to Herold, "I thought New York was going to look out for me, I just got back from war. I felt like I'd been stabbed in the back."
Herald is not alone. Already, an estimated 1,500 Iraq and Afghanistan veterans are homeless or at risk for homelessness. They are joining the increasing ranks of veterans who are homeless.
Bill, here are the facts. Veterans represent one-third of the adult homeless population in this country, and that number is rising. While almost 200,000 homeless veterans line the nation's streets every night, almost twice as many experience homelessness at some point throughout the course of a year. Essentially, we have the population of Des Moines, Iowa or Montgomery, Alabama "sleeping under bridges."
This is a national disgrace. As Americans we should be ashamed and outraged that the brave men and women of our Armed Forces are being abandoned under bridges, not denying their existence. As one of the most watched cable news hosts on television, Bill O'Reilly has a great opportunity to help homeless veterans by bringing more attention to the issue. Join IAVA in urging him to be part of the solution (www.BillwasWrong.com).
Click here to sign an open letter to Bill O'Reilly, telling him to set the record straight about the very real problem of homeless veterans in America. We also have a resource center where people can learn more, and find ways they can help.

[MNDemNY]

1. I checked, there are two on my block alone.

The sleep on the steps of a church here.

[redwitch]

2. I saw the KO show last night and was astonished.

How can anyone be that dense? Bill O'Reilly had better speak the truth about this on his show and he'd better do it soon. Support our troops indeed!

[maddiejoan]

3. Doesn't he tape his show in NYC?

He must be stepping over them on his way to the studio.

[rox63]

4. Nah, he probably rides to the studio in a limo

Bill-O can't be seen cavorting with the common folks. :eyes:

[0007]

5. I believe B O (Plenty) has bit off more than he can chew this time

around.

'Tis gonna be interesting to see his responses when the numbers come in and that he's had his head up his ass again!

Al Franken's job on B O will be pale in comparison.

[chelsea0011]

6. And so "The War on Veterans" begins.

[Aviation Pro]

7. Hey, Jerkoff who never served a day in uniform.....

...one is too many, fuckface wimp.

[rAVES]

8. in one day these Veterens done more work than Fathead will do in his entire life..

that is really fucking depressing...

[tekisui]

9. Who is going to be the first to compile a video of the homeless vets in their town?

I see many here. 1 in 4 homeless are Veterans.

I hope this gets a lot of attention, one for the treatment of our vets to be focused on. And, two, to bring down falafelly for good.

[hisownpetard]

10. I'm hoping it'll be Keith. That would be fantastic.

[0007]

11. It will create havoc for the witless one.

Bill O'Reilly smells like poop

[Jamastiene]

12. I saw something on Punk Voter about this.

O'Lielly is way off base once again.

[Rageneau]

13. Stupid question: Is Bill Orally a vet himself?

Or does he just play one on TV?

[MNDemNY]

14. He had "other priorities". OK?

[jzodda]

15. He does not traffic in the truth

Remember he has even made up studies and magazines that didn't even exist to support his positions. It was all talked about in Franken's great book. The guy has no cred as a journalist, and he has no cred even as a pundit because he lies to his listeners on a daily basis. He's worse then Rush. At least Rush, as vile as he is, is more misguided then anything else in this world view. Billo is a lier who lies knowingly and they plays the victim card almost every night. Its why I stopped watching his show years ago.

I am glad that people (thanks Keith O!) are finally exposing him daily for the opportunist lier he really is...

[redqueen]

16. I'm so glad John is raising awareness about this issue.

http://mediamatters.org/items/200801160009

(snip)

In fact, Edwards' claim that there are 200,000 homeless U.S. veterans is supported by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The VA website's "Overview of Homlessness" states, in part:

About one-third of the adult homeless population have served their country in the Armed Services. Current population estimates suggest that about 195,000 veterans (male and female) are homeless on any given night and perhaps twice as many experience homelessness at some point during the course of a year. Many other veterans are considered near homeless or at risk because of their poverty, lack of support from family and friends, and dismal living conditions in cheap hotels or in overcrowded or substandard housing.

The Washington Post reported that it had confirmed the veracity of Edwards' claim, noting on January 7:

Several readers have asked us to check this surprising statistic, often used by Edwards. The language may be overly dramatic, but the figure is an official one, from the Department of Veterans Affairs. The department believes that one-third of the adult homeless population of the United States "have served their country in the Armed Services." A posting on the department Web site says that about 195,000 veterans are "homeless on any given night" and perhaps twice as many experience homelessness at some point during the course of a year.

(more at link)

[racaulk]

17. The Falafel Master is talking out of his ass.

Again.

:eyes:

[gratuitous]

18. Billo deserves the sweet oblivion of silence

Anyone who cites him except in derision should similarly be ignored. He has no standing, and can cite no fact that doesn't have the stink of his own ass.

[Mother Of Four]

19. If you want to help our VETS...revise the USFSPA

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x4095151